Dropzone
- February 15, 2017
- Sparkypants Studios LLC
Get on Steam"Dropzone for PC is a Free-to-Play-Game that combines intense action with deep strategic planning and customization. Players control squads of three mighty war machines in an explosive 15-minute battle for dominance. Powered by the Sparkle Engine, a game engine built from the ground up for competitive online play, Dropzone is the Next Generation of RTS." "Select your three combat rigs and their p…
PC
Windows
Cloud
NVIDIA GeForce NOW
Reviews
- The game offers a unique blend of RTS and MOBA elements, allowing players to control three customizable mechs, which adds depth and strategy to gameplay.
- The graphics and overall polish of the game are impressive for an early access title, providing an engaging visual experience.
- The community is friendly and supportive, with active developers who engage with players and consider their feedback for future updates.
- The player base is very small, making it difficult to find matches, especially in competitive modes, which can lead to long wait times.
- Some gameplay mechanics, such as the inability to use WASD for camera movement and the long cooldowns on abilities, can be frustrating for new players.
- The monetization system includes microtransactions for unlocking better gear and pilots, which may lead to a pay-to-win perception among players.
- gameplay61 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is a blend of RTS and MOBA elements, featuring a variety of character classes with unique abilities and synergies, which allows for strategic team play. However, many users feel that the mechanics are somewhat limited compared to established titles like League of Legends or Dota 2, leading to a slower and occasionally repetitive experience. While some players appreciate the customization and depth of gameplay, others criticize the lack of content and the need for more engaging mechanics to enhance the overall experience.
“The gameplay has frequent and tense twists.”
“The game is fun; I love the way it combines RTS and MOBA style gameplay.”
“Dropzone combines core RTS elements of strategy, map awareness, and attention management with key MOBA mechanics like tactical positioning, unique abilities, and in-game leveling.”
“Don't waste your time if you're expecting macro mechanics, build orders, map depth, or anything else that makes RTS games great.”
“Also, very stale gameplay and lack of content make it worse; don't bother playing it, Dota 2 or LoL are much better.”
“I felt like the gameplay was a bit too slow and repetitive, and every match I played had me watching the clock just wondering when it would be over.”
- graphics24 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics of the game have received positive feedback, with many players praising the detailed art style, character models, and unique aesthetics, particularly the comic book influence. While some users noted issues with optimization and performance on lower-end systems, the majority found the visuals to be impressive and well-executed, contributing to an enjoyable gameplay experience.
“Interesting theme and story, it's innovative; even at minimum graphics, it looks really good.”
“Love the visuals, all the mechs and enemies look nice.”
“The graphics look fantastic with great map design.”
“I understand why, but for players using a computer or laptop, the graphics are not good enough and it can really put them off the game.”
“Graphics are just okay, but the game is very badly optimized.”
“What the graphics...?”
- optimization9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game receives mixed reviews; while some players report solid performance and good optimization, others experience issues such as frame drops and poor loadout designs. Overall, the game's performance is generally considered acceptable, but there are notable inconsistencies in optimization across different systems.
“Played it a bit now and I must say the game is well optimized and I liked it as well.”
“I like the fact that the game offers 2v2 and 1v1 modes among PvE stuff, is well optimized and graphics are rather neat.”
“Performance-wise, the game runs amazingly.”
“Horribly optimized game on my end.”
“Default loadouts for basic units are very poorly thought out and not optimized to create effective units.”
“Graphics are just okay, but the game is very badly optimized.”
- story9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The story of the game is described as interesting and innovative, with a mix of mission-oriented gameplay and mech combat that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the ability to turn the tide of a match by focusing on missions, despite some bugs affecting currency drops and quest updates. Overall, the narrative and gameplay elements contribute to a surprisingly enjoyable experience, especially with the addition of PvE co-op modes.
“Interesting theme and story; it's innovative. Even with minimal graphics, it looks really good.”
“I think my favorite aspect of this game is that even if you appear to be losing, by focusing on missions, you can turn a game around.”
“The mix of mission/goal-oriented gameplay, along with mech vs. mech combat, makes for an exciting game.”
“The story feels disjointed and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“I found the narrative to be predictable and uninspired, which detracted from my overall experience.”
“There are moments where the story seems to take a backseat to gameplay, leaving important plot points unresolved.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game minimizes traditional grinding elements commonly found in RTS and MOBA genres, focusing instead on fast-paced gameplay with shorter match durations and simplified objectives. However, some players still express frustration over the necessity of grinding or spending money to remain competitive, highlighting a mix of enjoyable mechanics and lingering grind-related issues.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Tons of grinding or $$$ required to compete, irrational last hitting nonsense, weird social games with your teammates, blah blah blah.”
“Reminds me of Dota 1 and Magina farming 40 minutes to end game in 5 minutes.”
- stability5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with users reporting severe performance issues such as freezing, unresponsive controls, and difficulty exiting the game. While some players appreciate the graphics and character design, the overall experience is marred by bugs typical of early access titles, leading to frustration during gameplay.
“My computer chokes while running this game and becomes almost unusable; the mouse freezes and the fans go full blast.”
“The game is in early access, but not in the 'still buggy and rough around the edges' kind.”
“There are like 2 very empty maps, and worst of all, you can't get off them; there are big freezes when you try to quit or tab out.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The monetization in the game features early microtransactions that some players feel could lead to a pay-to-win scenario, although currently, many users report that these transactions do not significantly affect game balance or progress. There is also a noted lack of advertising for the game.
“You are confronted with microtransactions way too early.”
“Microtransactions can reduce your progress time, so I'm afraid it could get a little pay-to-win.”
“This game does include microtransactions, but it seems like at the moment they don't impact the balance of the game - or at least I haven't seen anyone claim it does.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised, with users noting its remarkable quality and expressing enjoyment of both the soundtrack and the voice acting.
“I like the music; it's remarkable.”
“I am really enjoying the music and the voice acting.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's ability to blend two favorite genres, resulting in a competitive experience that encourages replayability.
“It combines my two favorite genres and creates a replayable competitive experience.”
“The game offers so many different paths and choices that I find myself coming back for more.”
“Each playthrough feels unique, thanks to the variety of characters and strategies available.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find humor in the game's progression system, particularly the escalating experience points required to fill the next gauge, which adds a comedic twist to the grind.
“The funny part is that the next gauge will need more experience points in order to be filled, and so on and so forth.”
